Improvement in telegraph apparatus for automatic signaling



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Te|eg"raphfAplparatus for Auto-,matic Signalling.

fNo. 144,643. Pafemeduov.1,17s,

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or other suitable instrument. The signals are any other similar purpose.

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. WILLIAM UNGER., or NEWARK, NEW JEEsEY, AND HAMILTON E. TowLE,

0F NEV YORK, N. Y. l

IMPROVEMENT IN TELEGRAPH APPARATUSA FOR AUTOMATIC SIGNALING.

i Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 144,643, dated November 18, 1873.; application l'ed.

August 1,5, 1873. l

To all whom 'it may concern:

Beit known that we, WILLIAM UNGER, of Newark, N ew Jersey, and HAMILTON E. TOWLE, of the city of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Telcgraphic Apparatus, of which the following is a correct description:

Our invention relates to that kind of apparatus which is intended to automatically make and break electric circuits, for the purpose of transmitting over wires signals, arranged in the machine itself, the operator having nothing to do but to set and start the machine. The machine, when set, may be started also by the action of heat in case of an accidental re, or by the opening of doors or windows in The motive power of the automatic appar/atus 'consists of a weight or spring, which is to lbe wound up or contracted whenever the machine is set for use, by merely moving a knob or handle through a convenient space; or it may be wound up like a clock, so as to serve for several transmissions of signals.

We prefer the construction which provides for compressing the spring each time previous to using the apparatus with the arrangement of the knob or handle, so that by merely inspecting the position of the same it will be seen if the apparatus is set ready for use or not.

The signals are produced at the station or stations by an ordinary Morse re gister, sounder, l

given automatically, and the same apparatus will, for example, give signals for calling a messenger, police, or to indicate fire, or for One peculiarity of vthe machine is the reciprocating circuit-breaker, which is moved in one direction by hand to set it for action, and in the opposite direction by a spring or weight when it is making signals, thus distinguishing it from rotary circuit-breakers, which repeat Without reciprocating. This circuit breaker consists of a sliding bar, connected with one pole of the battery, armed with projections, which conduct the electric current when in contact with the opposite pole of the battery,

the absence of metal in them or the presence ot' a non-conductor, prevent the current from passing, and a point, which is the opposite pole of the battery, so placed that it will be drawn against and into `contact with the conducting projections on the bar. These two parts may both be moved in opposite direc` tion, or one may stand still and the other be moved; but in either case the moving part must be' returned tothe starting-point after each transmission before` it can repeat the signals. The movable part of this circuit-breaker is provided with a notch, into which a detent .enters to hold itin position when it is set, and

`for operation by unskilled persons, are conspicuous. I Several circuit-breakers may `be. employed in the same apparatus, whenever more than one set of signals are required. y

A simple and convenient form of application of the device herein suggested is shown in Fig` ure 1 of the accompanying drawings, which is a vertical section through an upright cylin der, G, fixed upon a base, B,which also carries an inclosing-cylinder,C2, upon which `are sa' i cured the various bars b1 b2 b3 b4 b5 be', &c.,

which are constructed or notched to produce lthe desired arbitrary signals. The inner cylinder C may conveniently contain the spring giving the moving power, as shown in a state of tension at s, in which it tends to lift the piston P up through the cylinder C, and carry with it the pistonrod R, surmounted` by the yoke y and the knob k. `To provideagainst4 the unequal force of the spring,a correspond ing resistance is provided, to cause the pistoni and attachedparts to move uniformly; Sonie fluid or liquid is placed in the'cylindcr, arid-a" hole or passage-wayA is made Ain the piston;h

through which the liquid mustipas'sf as the? piston is moved'Y by the force ofthelspriirgrIhis hole is provided with a tapering spindle, s1, secured at the bottom of the cylinder, andV passing through it, leaving an annular space around it, and so contracts the passage-way when the force of the spring is greatest, and enlarges it when the spring loses its force, as to cause the piston 'to move quite uniformly during its entire stroke. From the yoke y depend spring-pieces p1 p2 p3, connected wit-h one pole of the battery, carrying at their lower ends the points Q1 in contact with the bars b1 b2 b3,&c., ready to automatically make and break the circuit whenever the piston is moved upward by the spring s. rIhe spring s may be released at will by pressing upon the key k1, which is fixed upon the bent lever L, centered at the pin i, and which carries the de# tent h, engaging in an opening, o, in one of the springfpieces 191. n The spring s2 serves to keep the key raised, and at the same time holds the detent h in proper position to engage in the opening o whenever the piston P is pressed down to the bottom, as shown in its present position. The bent lever L also carries thearmature A. The magnet M is iiXed in working position upon the stud f, opposite the armature A. An adjustable screw, a, acts upon the lever L, and regulates the motion of the armature A. rJhe spring-pieces p1 192,860., are each made forked, as shown in Fig. 4, and each end of the fork carries a pole or point for contact, and they operate as hereinafter explained. A switch, G, Fig. 3, serves to throw the current through whichever circuitbreaker is to produce the required signal, one circuit-breaker only being in the circuit at once. A ring, R1, inclosing all the springs p1 p2, &c., serves to keep the points away from the bars'during the downward motion of the piston, by dropping over the enlarged ends ot' the springs when they reach the upper limit of their motion, at which point they become compressed by the cam-pieces c1 c2 c3 enough to permit the ring to inclose them. The springs now remain compressed, away from the bars, during the descent of the piston, till they reach nearly to the bottom of the cylinder, when the ring comes in contact with studs, which prevent it from further descent, and as a consequence, the springs being still further depressed, the enlarged ends pass below the ring, and their elasticity renews the contact of their points with the bars, and the ring remains -passive till carried up by shoulders on the springs to the upper end of the cylinder, when it again clasps the spring, as before. f

For giving more certainty to the breaking and making the circuit, the combinatioirbars maybe arranged in pairs, as shown in Fig. 4, bywhich the combination of signals is duplicated; or one bar only in any circuit may have the combination of signals, While the remaining bar in the same circuit may be plain, and only used for preserving continuouscontact ofl a point moving against it. In the case where the circuit-breaking point remains at rest, one combination-bar in the circuit is made to pass along against the point, thus producing the same effect as in the case aboveV stated, where two points connected by a fork pass over two similar bars.

To facilitate understanding the action of the apparatus in practical operation -in a line or telegraph circuit, the diagram, Fig. 4, is made, which fully shows the system as a whole, including an explanation of the use of the key F2 Svc.

2.Ehe main line m m is kept charged from the main battery M', and the system is worked with what is termed a closed circuit.

N represents an electric bell, sounder, or Morse register at the office where signals are to be received.

The binding-posts B1 B2 serve to connect the main line to the apparatus, which is described as follows From B2 connection is made to the switch G, which may be placedV at will upon. either of the buttons or knobs k2 104 k6, which are, respectively, connected with the combination-bars b2, b4, and 116. (Shown independent of the other parts of the instrument in Fig. 4.) Starting from binding-post B1, the connection leads to the finger-key F2, which, from the force of the spring so, is in contact with the back point t2, connecting with one of each pair or set of the combination-bars employed in the system.

In the `present example three sets of combinations are employed, and the back point t2 is connected with all the combination-bars, of which, however, in the present position of the switch G, the bars b3 b4 only are in circuit. The current is, therefore, free to iiow uninterruptedly through the entire line, connection being preserved at the combination bars by the spring-piece p2, carrying the points for contact at its lower ends.

If, now, it is desired to produce at N the particular signals in combination on the bars b3 b4, (one of which may be entirely plain, if desired,`) the key k1, Fig. l, is pressed, and the spring-piece p2 ascends, and the points of the spring-pieces are drawn over the notches in. the bars, whereby corresponding interruptions of the current take place, and the desired signals are produced at N. v

By altering the switch G to the button or knob connecting with any other set of bars, corresponding signals will be produced at N.

In order that one operator may not start his instrument while the line is being operated'by another, 'provision is made for testing the line as follows: A small magnet, M, serving as a sounder,'is, at pleasure, thrown into the circuit by pressing the finger-key F2 to the anvil t1, which, at the same time, cuts out of circuit all the circuit-breakers beyond the back point t2, at which the break occurs. If M is found not to be'working, it is then known that the line is free, and that the key k1 may be pressed and the instrument' thereby be started.

While making the above test in this form of instrument, the knob 7.'v yshould be held down to rprevent the piston from rising, as it would do in consequence of-the bolt `l1. being withdrawnby the action of themagnet M upon its armature and the bent lever to which it is attached.

For starting the apparatus in case of iire, a small local battery, L1, is erected convenient to the instrument, containing the combination-bars, and this local battery is con- `nected to` the magnet M, and, also, to a `small air apparatus, A2, which is placed in 4The air-chamber A maybe made of glass or.

other suitable material, in the forni of a small j ar, with an" opening provided with a rubber or other elastic air-tight cover, upon which ametallic point, il, is secured opposite -to a corresponding adjustable point, i2. These points must be insulated in respect to eachother.

For burglaralarm purposes the local battery andmagnet M are connected with the doors or windows at which the burglar is supposed to make his attack, so that, upon his moving them sufficiently, the local circuit is 'closed and the instrument started and made to give the desired signals.

i The arrangement of the local circuit connecting the battery Ll, magnet M, and window WY is also shown in Fig. 4.

Another form of the instrument in which our circuit-breaker is employed to make the arbitrary breaks `of the circuit is shown in Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8. In this, form of the apparatus an ornamental column and base inclose nearly all the working parts, while the outside may be made to support a thermometer or serve for some similar purpose.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section through the instrument, showing a side View of the three circuit-breakers b1 b2 b3 and p1 p2 p3,- and Fig. 6 shows the same y in front view. Fig. 7 is a horizontal section taken on the line x z.

A train of clock-work actuates a rod, R, which projects through the top of the case, and is surmounted by thc knob k, as shown in Fig. 5. This rod is attached toV a rack, R2, which engages in a pinion, l", upon the shaft m, which carries the driving-spring s4, the ratchet and pawl r, and the gear-wheel g, en-

gaging the pinion below upon the same shaft as the escapement-wheel E, which is acted upon by the pallet F, fixed upon the rock-shaft J, which also carries a pendulum, k?, with adjustable weight 'zo screwed upon it. These parts comprise the clock work movement, which serves to move the rack R2 and the at tached points p1 p2 p3 upward when the instrument is required to give the arbitrary signals arranged on the combination-bars. The

spring s4 in Fig. 5 isin a state of tension, with the knob k and attached rod R, and the rack R2 held down by the detent a, entering a notch in theA foot of 'the rack. The detent a carries the armature A of the magnet M, and the spring 85 serves to throw the detent into Va notch in the lower end of lthe rackand also to draw the armature away from'` the magnet. The points p1 p2 p3 are attached to springblades, which are secured to the rack B2; `and, the spring-blades serve to bring their points into contact with the conducting-points of the combination-bars whenever theyare made rto pass over them. A bent lever, L, centered at the pin o, and provided with the iinger-key k1, supported byv a spring, (directly 'beneath` 761,)

lwith the other end of the bent lever inV contact with the Vdetent n or the armature A, serves to withdraw the detent and release the rack whenever it is desired to make use of the apparatus. i

When the instrument is employed as firedetecter, the magnet M is made to attract the armature, and thus withdraw the detent and start the instrument. The switch" Gr canbe set to correspond to the messenger, police, or

re alarm, or other combinations on the cirn cuitbreaker, either combination being thrown into the line, at the' pleasure of the operator, by merely moving the 4switch to connect with the proper button. n n

When the instrument is at rest, the line-current is free to pass through `the switch Gr, thence to one of the combination-bars, through its corresponding point and` spring-blade to the rack-piece and base, and from the latter, through a convenient binding-post, the linel is continued to the next instrument in the circuit.

In order' to prevent the whole, or any part, of either combination of signals from` being made during the process of setting the circuitbreaker, we have so arranged a metallic springpiece, s, andV attached.it to the rack R2, that, while the points arel passing alonginreverse order over the bars diuing the actof `setting the circuitbreaker, full connection `is made with the line through sandthe metallic plate m, which is insulated from the base, but connected with the line, so that no breaks occur in the circuit during the setting; but as soon as the setting has been finished, then the detent a holds the clock-work wound up till it is released; at the same time the spring s6 iiies away from contact with the plate m, against which it presses at; all' times during the` setting.. The contact of s6 with m during the descent of the rack R2, which corresponds to the setting, is caused by the cam-shaped upper end of the plate m, directly over which the horizontal bent end of s `stands whenfthe rack is in its highest position. When the rackis pressed down,the cam-shaped end of the plate m causes the spring-piece s6 to moveto the left, in constant contact with it, till .'96 escapes from one end or the `other of the plate When, however, the spring-piece s6 has been pressed so as to escape from the lower end of the plate m,it cannot `resume connection with plate m again till it arrives at theupper part of its stroke, after having passed along the non-conducting surface n', which guards the right side of the plate m. This non-conductor, at the lower end, has the form of a' Y test the line before starting any instrument to work upon it. This may be effected by any device which will throw the line-current through a magnet or sounder attached to the instrument.' For this purpose, in Fig. 5, we make special use of the same knob or handle by which the instrument is set, and we may so arrange the connections that either anfend, rotary, or sidewise movementto the knob or handle will throw the line-circuit into the magnet through which the test is made. In the form of our invention shown in Fig. 5, the endwise motion of the handle or knob is preferred; so that, after the instrument is wound up and set, the operator has only to press upon the knob k and cause the rack to descend a short distance, which will free the detent n, and at the same time, by means of two pins, q q', projecting from the rack B2, throw the magnet M into the linecircuit, as hereafter, explained, and allow the armature A to vibrate, and thus indicate ii' the line is being used or not. As soon as it is found that the line is clear, the operator may remove the pressure from knob k and press upon key k1, which will push the detent n from and re-v VStarting of the instrument.

We secure great advantage from making the test of the line by the same knob or handie by which the instrument is set, inasmuch as full control is thereby held over the action of the instrument by the same hand that makes thetest.

The object of the escapement and adjustable pendulum is to so modify the motion of the main shaft as to cause the rack to ascend with the proper speed to produce the desired breaks in the circuit. Fig. 5 represents the spring s4 in a state of tension, with the rack held down by the detent n, engaged in a notch in the foot of the rack-piece. Thel knob k1, acting upon the bent lever L centered upon the pin o, serves to disengage the detent and release the rack whenever it is desired to start the instrument. Whenever it is desired to test the line, the handle k is pressed upon. The detent is then free to be moved by the magnet M acting upon its armature A secured to the detent, the electric current being thrown through the magnet by the descent of the handle 7c, which, in addition to setting the detent free, also throws the magnetM into the line-circuit in the following manner: The line is connected with the insulated binding-post B3, Fig. 8, and this post is connected to a back point, t2, which is ordinarily in contact with the spring 87, which is in turn connected with the switch G. The binding-post B3 is also connected with the magnet M, and through it to the spring si. The lower end of the rack B2, which is in contact with the base, carries the two pins q q.

Now, when the rack is pressed to the extreme bottom, the pin q makes contact with s", throwing the line-current through the magnet M, while at the same time the circuit through the back point t2 is opened, in consequence of the pin q coming into contact with the spring $7 and moving it away from thel back point t2. Thus the magnet M is thrown into the line, and the test required is completed and if the magnet remains quiet, the line will thus be known to be free, and the operator can start his instrument.

Fig. 9 represents an analytic view of the connections by which the electric current is affected by the operations of the machine shown in Fig. 5. l

Ll L2 represent the main line as it enters and leaves the instrument. B1 is the bindingpost to the base of the instrument. B2 is the insulated bindin g-post, through which the insulated connections are Vmade. B3 is the bindin g-post for passing the current through the magnet M, for the purpose of testing the instrument or for the fire or burglar alarm. G is the switch, and k2 7a4 k6 are the buttons to the same. R2 is the reciprocating rod, carrying the point p3 of the circuit-breaker. The combination-bar is lettered b2,- and m and n compose the switch G', upon which the spring s6 operates, in the manner already described. The pins q and q are on the reciprocatmg rod or rack B2, and S7 and $8 arerthe springs which come into contact with the pins q and q. The back point, through which the current passes when the wire w touches it, is t2. These diiferent parts are intended to represent correspending parts in Fig. 5.

As the instrument is shown in the drawing, it is set ready for action. Commencing at the binding-post B2, the current passes through the wire w to the back point t2, and through the spring s7 and the wire w1 to the switch G, and through the button 762 and the wire to the combinationfbar b3, which, being in communication with the rack-bar R2 through the point p3, completes the circuit with the base, so that the current passes through the machine, and out through the base, at the binding-post B1, without interruption.

, For the purpose of testing the line, the bar B2 is pressed down by the knob k, in consequence of which the pin q comes into contact with the spring s, and the pin q immediately afterward into contact with the spring S7, which, being depressed by the pressure upon the knob k, breaks the circuit at the back point t2. In this condition the current can no longer pass through the wire nf; but communication being formed through the spring 88 and pin g, the current passes through the Wire 1412, through the helix of the magnet M, through the binding-post B3 into the base, through the spring S8 and pin q, and rod R2, which is in communication with the base. If, under these circumstances, signals are passing through the main line, the armature of the magnet M is vibrated, and the line is known to be occupied. If the armature is still, the line is not otherwise occupied, and the circuit-breaker may be liberated and setto work. As the bar R2 rises, the spring s6 comes into contact with the insulated side n of the switch G', and consequently no current passes through that switch. When the circuit-breaker has completed its movement, the spring s6 will be above the switch, with its point over the upper curve, inthe same relative position as it occupies in the drawing below its lower curve. The upper curve and one side of the switch G are covered with a metallic plate, m, in connection with the wire w1 by means of the wire y. When the knob 7c is pressed downward to set the instrument, the'bent point of the spring s6 (see Fig. 7) comes into contact with the metallic plate m before the point p3 has broken the connection by passing over a blank or insulated space on the bar b3, and, as a consequence, the bar R2 is in circuit with the main line through the wire y; and while the bar R2 is being depressed to the bottom, that connection is maintained without interruption through the metallic plate m. When the bar R2 has been depressed far enough to put the point p3 below the breaks on the combinationbar, the spring s6 iiies off from the end of the plate m, thereby breaking the connection4 through s6, which cannot again be restored until the instrument has transmittedits signals and is about to be reset. A When the fire-alarm or burglar-alarm acts,

the local circuit is closed at one of the points z z, whereby the current from the local battery passes through the magnet M, causing the armature of that magnet to withdraw the detent which holds down the rod R2, and thus to set the circuit-breaker `into action, as al-` v and a spring or weight to move the same, for

the purpose of giving signals,substantially as described.

2. In telegraph-machines for automatic signaling, the combination of two ormore reciprocatin g circuit-breakers with a switch-key, by which any one of the circuit-breakers may be brought into action independently of the others, substantially as'described. i

3. The stem or key, for the double purpose of setting the circuit-breakingapparatus, and of testing the line-currentwhich operates the automatic telegraphic machine, substantially in the manner described.

4. The electro-magnet, arranged substantially as described, for the double purpose of testing the currenty which "operates the machine, and for unlocking the detent which holds the circuit-breaker whenever the circuit of a local battery is affected by the openingof a window or door or by heat. f t p 5. The switch or conductor, connected to one end of the `main "circuit, upon which a point connected and moving with the circuit-breaker slides while the circuit-breaker is being restored to its starting-point, and which is insulated from contact with the circuit-breaker while the instrument is making signals, ,for the purpose of maintaining continuity through the main line while the movable part of the circuit-breaker is being restored to its startingpoint, substantially asdescribed.` A

WILLIAM AUNGER.

Witnesses: HAMILTON E. TOWLE, 

